BowTieBrigade

Yes, it’s in your cabin

Right, my point was there is no reason to believe that kids are exposed to an uncontrolled environment (e.g. stepping off a fully tested ship) at a rate higher than the adults, such that it would justify an increased need to prevent them, specifically, from exposing others.

I don’t understand why this is a point of contention. If adults can go by themselves and kids can’t, the kids’ likelihood of going ashore can’t be higher than the adults’.

Adventure does not have a dedicated Starbucks. It has the specialty coffee location that shares a counter with Ben & Jerry’s right outside Cafe Promenade. I *believe* that higher tier drink packages work there; we had a soda package and specialty coffee card that we used there.

Because kids can’t go themselves. Either parents and kids go together or adults go by themselves. There is no scenario where kids go by themselves.

I agree it should have always been mask-optional, but I’m more referring to the logic of the thing. It’s been accepted that early claims that the vaccine prevented people from catching and spreading covid were incorrect. So the vaccines are really for self-protection more than the protection of others. Treating unvaccinated kids differently from vaccinated adults, then, doesn’t really make sense, especially considering that everyone has to test negative before getting onboard and, I would be willing to bet, kids are less likely to go on shore excursions and leave the controlled environment during the trip. I only hope that the protocols continue to open up quickly and steadily.

This very much upsets me. I can only imagine walking around unmasked with my kids in tow asking why they have to wear theirs. I really hope this changes before my next (July) sailing…

If you’re like me, YOLO book some more trips over the next couple years so you have even MORE to look forward to!

Lol, you really need to learn your science. The reason it’s ok to be massless and smoke in the casino is the smoke prevents the virus particles from breathing and chokes them to death. Dead virus particles are basically a booster shot. To paraphrase one of the greatest medical minds from Scotland, there is no science that can bring back the dead, Harry. J/K, I agree with you, a lot of the protocols seem more appearance over substance.

Just make sure it’s an actual booking and not a royal-up. You don’t get double points for bidding.

My in-laws are diamond plus and so we chose Royal to be able to go with them. We’ve been on Disney and found it to be absolutely atrocious.

It seems consensus that 250CP is the restaurant to eat at on bigger ships. But the menu looks to me like a restaurant that is trying too hard to be fancy. Can you all tell me why you like it so much?

It is, but I’m pretty sure the same poll also said a majority wanted masks and distancing protocols in their home states. I want to get back to no-protocol cruising, personally, but until that becomes the clearly prevalent mindset, RC is unlikely to change its policies. I expect they would have to see a decline in bookings due to protocols in place, as opposed to the decline they would likely currently see for lifting protocols.

I certainly hope so. We have made the decision to not get our children vaccinated and have 18 months before the mandate kicks in for our oldest. I do expect we will be either finding other family vacations or going without the kids for some time, though.

If you go into the cruise planner, under gifts, you can purchase decorations, strawberries, and/or cake for your cabin. Definitely also let your travel agent, room steward, wait staff, and any other event staff you work with know about his birthday and see what comes of it. Just a thought, at Disneyland, there are big buttons you can pin on announcing your birthday and the staff is trained to wish you a happy birthday when they see them. I wonder if you put your husband in a t-shirt announcing his birthday would yield similar results on the ship...

We have one booked over Christmas. Any chance you can see the aqua shows?

@bryresangelWhat boat are you on? We are also sailing western Caribbean over Christmas (on Allure, I believe). I’m assuming the lack of excursions is due to the sailing being 11 months out and they will be populated as we get closer to sailing.

@Tara182Definitely start listening to the RC Blog Podcast backlog. There is so much helpful info in there that you can consume while you’re doing chores or whatever. Don’t go more than about two years back, though. The older ones have outdated info that’s no longer accurate.

Don’t know about Oasis. Navigator’s was closed over Christmas.

Nah, you understand it. It is technically against policy to share, but we’ve never had a problem with it.

Man, that looks awesome. I hope they reopen soon!

@AspiringCruisePlannerI hope you’re right. I have 4 trips on the horizon and would love to actually keep them!

We’re doing our first connecting cabins cruise in six weeks and I didn’t bid on Royal Up for this very reason. Too bad, I’m betting we’re going to have an emptier ship and would have a good shot at a successful bid…

There is no difference in the MDR experience w unvaccinated kids, except possibly the floor you eat on. You walk in, sit down, and remove your mask, and so do they. As for the timing, my time dining is unavailable to unvaccinated kids, so I would say your best bet is to check with the head waiter on embarkation day to see if you can change your reservation to early dining.